Telephone pay station apparatus



jamo Z5 1936. J VINCENT 2,28,8511

TELEPHONE PAY STATION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 25, 1934 INVENTO R WILLIAM JVE'NGENT ATTOPNF'Y Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICEWilliam J. Vincent, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Rochester TelephoneCorporation, Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 23, 1934, SerialNo. 749,571

10 Claims.

This invention relates to coin collecting devices and more particularlyto means for preventing the fraudulent removal of coins from telephonecoin collecting devices.

In coin collecting devices of the prepayment type such as are commonlyused at telephone pay stations, it is the practice to refund thedeposited coin or coins to patrons when calls are not completed. Thispractice has afforded an opportunity for dishonest patrons to operatethese devices so that the coins, deposited therein in the course ofmaking calls, are returned to such patrons even when the calls arecompleted, thereby defrauding the telephone company of money whichshould be collected.

As is well known, such a coin collecting .device includes a coin trapwhich holds the deposited coin or coins until the time of collection andit also includes a coin vane directively operated by current of twodifferent polarities selectively applied from a telephone exchange,either to collectv the deposited coin or coins for the telephone companywhen the call is successful or to return them to the patron if the callis not completed. In the past, unscrupulous individuals have been ableto insert thin strips of material into the device from the exterior ofits housing tomove the coin vane in a direction to refund all depositedcoins. In certain other instances. dishonest. persons have gained accessto the intericr of the device and have either manually operated the coinvane to refund the coin or coins or have disconnected the extension pinon the coin vane from the magnetically-operated arm which normallyactuates it to collect or to refund the coin, so that the vane: could betilted to refund all coins deposited in the device.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided so that thecoin vane cannot be tilted to the refund position manually from theinterior of the housing of the device or by means of a thin stripinsert-ed into the device through a joint in its housing.

A further feature of the invention relates to an electromagneticallyactuated latch operable only by the application of coin refundingcurrent from the telephone exchange, which latch locks the coin vane sothat it cannot be fraudulently tilted tov the coin refunding position.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, means areprovided which render it exceedingly difficult for an unauthorizedperson to disconnect the extension pin on the coin vane from themagnetically operated arm of the coin collecting device.

These and other features of the invention will appear from the detaileddescription and claims when taken with the drawing in which Fig. 1 is afront elevation of the electro-magnetically operated unit of a coincollecting device of the character above referred to; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is adetailed View of the latch mechanism for preventing fraudulent operationof the coin vane; and Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line5-5 of Fig. 1 illustrating the means for preventing the unauthorizeddisconnection oi the extension pin on the coin vane from its operatingarm.

The invention herein disclosed is intended for incorporation in a coincollecting device of the character disclosed in the patent to Forsberg,#1343219, granted November 5, 1912. The housing of the device shown inthat patent as well as the coin chutes, the coin trigger, the coin trapand the coin vane may remain unchanged. However, the electro-magneticunit of that device, while structurally the same as that shown in thepatent disclosure, has incorporated therein the structure of the presentinvention. 25

This electro-magnetic unit includes a yoke 5 on which there is mountedin spaced relation, the cores 6 and l which have their upper ends cutaway to form pole-pieces 8 and 9. Solenoid windings Ill and IIrespectively encircle cores 3 and I. A permanent magnet l2 has its lowerend attached to yoke 5 by means of screw l3, while the upper end I ofthis magnet extends substantially into the plane of the upper ends ofthe polepieces 8 and 9. A U-shaped frame l4 apertured to receivepole-pieces 8 and 9, is attached by screws to the ends of cores 6 and I.This frame is provided with uprights l5 and I6 and with cut-out portionll through which the upper end of the permanent magnet l2, projects. Abracket I8 has its intermediate portion pivoted at l9 and 2G in theupr'ghts l5 and I6 and has fixedly secured to its under-side, apermanent magnet 22 so that the free ends of this magnet can rock towardthe pole-pieces 3 and 9. It will be noted that the armature by reason ofits mounting on the bracket l8 has its intermediate portion adjacent thefree end of the upwardly extending permanent magnet I 2. Stops in theform of extensions 23 and 24 on the bracket l8 are arranged to engageportions of the frame M to limit the rocking movement in eitherdirection of this bracket as well as the armature 22 attached to it.Stop arms 25 and 25 individually pivoted at [9 and 20, and provided withextensions 27 and 28, are urged downwardly by springs (not shown) toengage the ends of the pole pieces H2 and M3, so that these arms tend tolimit the upward swinging movement of each end of the armature 22, allin accordance with well-known practice. The bracket 28 has an integralarm 3E projecting at right angles thereto through the cut-out portion llof the frame, which arm .terminates at its lower end in a forked ofisetportionti. This forked portion is adapted to receive the extension pin32 forming a part of the well-known coin vane 33, which is tiltable inone direction to collect the coin or in the opposite direction to refundthe coin to the patron. The device includes a coin trigger 3 5, a cointrigger lever 35, a coin trigger lever spring 3%, inner ground contactspring Iiland the outer ground contact spring 38 which are identical inconstruction and function with the corresponding parts disclosed in thementioned Forsberg patent and need not be further described herein.

In the past dishonest persons have been able to insert a thin strip ofsubstantially rigid material'through a joint between pieces of thehousing of the device toswing the arm 39 as shown in Fig. 1 towardtheleft, thereby tilting the coin vane 33 to a position to refund thedeposited coin or. coins. In accordance with the present invention,means are provided which substantially eliminate all possib'flities ofsuch fraudulent operation of the device. In a preferred form of thismeans, the pole-piece Q is provided with 'an opening therethrough,extending generally in the direction of the long axis of the armature22. A latch ill in the form of a plug or cylinder of 'm'agnetic materialis-mounted in this opening.

This plug has an enlarged head at one end so that it cannot move to theleft beyond the position shown in Fig. l, and has secured thereto at itsother end, an extension 5! of the same diameter as the plug but formedof non-magnetic material such as brass. This extension normally projectsinto the path of the right hand end of the armature 22 as shown, in Fig.1, so that the mentioned end of the armature cannot be tilted downwardwhen the latch is in its normal position and therefore the arm 38attached to this armature and its offset portion 3! are prevented frombeing moved to tilt the coin vane 33 to its refund position. An arcuatepole-piece 12 of electromagnetic material is fixedly mounted on theframe it in slightly spaced relation from the polepieoe S and from thehead of the plug 40. A leaf spring :13 of non-magnetic material such asbrass has its ends engaging the ends of the piece 62 while itsintermediate portion is bowed to engage the head of the plug in order tohold it in normal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A cover M ofnon-magnetic material such as brass mounted by means of screws to on thepole-piece 42 enclose the major portion of the latch mechanism andtherefore renders the latch extension '6! inaccessible from the front ofthe unit so that an unauthorized person cannot mechanically operate thelatch ii], while this latch, in its normal position prevents the manualtilting of the coin vane of the device.

operator at the central exchange transmits: the

coin refunding current, this current will be of such polarity that thesolenoid winding ll will a be energized and at the same time the fluxleaking from the winding i! through'the pole-piece 32 to the pole-pieceIt will attract the plug or latch lfi toward the right as shown, so thatits extension A! will be withdrawn from the path of the right hand endof the armature 22. The energization of the winding H also causes theright hand end of the armature 22 to rock downwardly and since theextension ti of the latch is now out of its path, this portion of thearmature will swing downwardly toward the frame l 4 until its movementis stopped by stop 24. This movement of the armature swings the lowerforked end. 35 of the arm 38 in a clockwise direction and this armthrough its engagement with the extension pin 32 on the coin vane tiltsthis vane to the coin refund position. Thus the coin vane can be tiltedto the refund position only when the latch ill is electrically operatedor drawn into the pole-piece 9 by current transmitted under operatorcontrol from the telephone exchange.

It has also been discovered that unauthorized persons frequently gainaccess to the interior of the housing of the coin collect mechanism anddepress the arm 38 toward the permanent magnet lZ as best shown in Fig.2 so that the forked portion 3i of this arm is disengaged from the pinextension 32 on the coin vane 33. When the pin extension 32 is thusdisengaged, the vane can be tilted so that all coins will be refunded.In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, anadjustable'collar -56 is clamped to a the permanent magnet l2 by meansof a bolt ll in such a position that the collar presents its surface 48close to the right hand surface of; the arm 39 as illustrated in Fig. 2and thereby prevents this arm from being bent toward the. right with theresult that the forked portion 31 of the arm cannot be disconnected fromthe coin vane pin extension. The bolt t": is placed in a ratherinaccessible position and since a person attempta ing to fraudulentlyoperate the device, must act very quickly, the collar 46 presents such ahandicap as to prevent the disconnection of coin vane pin extension 323from the arm so that the coin vane cannot be permanently tilted to therefund position. a

What I claim is:

i. In a coin collecting device, a polarized electro-magnetic unit havingan armature movable in one direction in response to operating current ofone polarity and movable in the other direction in response tocurrent ofthe opposite polarity, and means'normally locking'said armature againstmovement in one direction, said means being unlocked and said armaturebeing moved by the energization of said electromagnet in response tocurrent of one polarity.

2. In a coin collecting device, a' polarized electromagnetic unit havingan armature movable in one direction inresponse to, operating current ofone polarity and movable in the other direction in response to currentof the opposite polarity, and a latch normally preventing movement ofsaid armature in one direction, said latch being withdrawn by leakageflux from said electromagnetic unit when said unit is energized inresponse to current of one polarity.

3. In a coin collecting device, a polarized electromagnetic unitprovided with a pair of polepieces, an armature pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and having its ends respectively positionedadjacent each pole-piece, one of said pole-pieces having an openingtherein, a latch of magnetic material in said'opening, said latch havinga portion normally extending into the path of movement of one end ofsaid armature, and a secondary pole-piece of magnetic material supportedadjacent said last-mentioned polepiece and said latch in the path ofleakage flux from a portion of said electromagnetic unit whereby theenergization of said unit in one sense withdraws the latch from the pathof movement of said armature and attracts the adjacent end of saidarmature.

4. In a coin collecting device, a polarized electromagnetic unitprovided with a pair of polepieces, an armature pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and having its ends respectively positionedadjacent each pole-piece, one of said pole-pieces having an openingtherein, a latch of magnetic material in said opening, said latch havingan extension of non-magnetic material normall projecting into the pathof movement of one end of said armature, and a secondary pole-piece ofmagnetic material supported adjacent said last-mentioned pole-piece andsaid latch in the path of leakage flux from a portion of saidelectromagnetic unit whereby the energization of said unit in one sensewithdraws the latch from the path of movement of said armature andattracts the adjacent end of said armature.

5. In a coin collecting device, a polarized electromagnetic unitprovided with a pair of polepieces, an armature pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and having its ends respectively positionedadjacent each pole-piece, one of said pole-pieces having an openingtherein, a latch of magnetic material in said opening, said latch havingan extension of non-magnetic material normally projecting into the pathof movement of one end of said armature, a secondary polepiece ofmagnetic material supported adjacent said last-mentioned pole-piece andan end of said latch in the path of leakage flux from a portion of saidelectromagnetic unit whereby the energization of said unit in one sensewithdraws the latch from the path of movement of said armature andattracts the adjacent end of said armature, and a shield substantiallyenclosing said latch.

6. In a coin collecting device, a polarized electromagnetic unitprovided with a pair of polepieces, an armature pivotally mountedintermediate its ends and having its ends respectively positionedadjacent each pole-piece, one of said pole-pieces having an openingtherein, the axis of said opening extending in the direction of the mainaxis of said armature, a latch of magnetic material in said opening,said latch having an extension of non-magnetic material normallyprojecting into the path of movement of one end of said armature, and asecondary pole-piece of magnetic material supported adjacent saidlastmentioned pole-piece and facing the opening therein in the path ofleakage flux from a portion of said electromagnetic unit whereby theenergization of said magnet in one sense withdraws the latch from thepath of movement of said armature and attracts the adjacent end of saidarmature.

7. In a coin collecting device, a coin vane, a polarized electromagneticunit having an armature movable in one direction in response tooperating current of one polarity and movable in the other direction inresponse to current of the opposite polarity, an arm of flexiblematerial mounted for swinging movement under the control of said ar--mature, said arm having a portion engaging said coin vane, and meansnormally preventing said arm from being bent out of engagement with saidcoin vane.

8. In a coin collecting device, a coin vane, a polarized electromagneticunit having solenoids each provided with a core mounted in spacedrelation, an armature pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereofadjacent said solenoids, whereby the ends of said armature respectivelyswing toward said cores, a member mounted between said cores andextending generally parallel to the main axes thereof, an arm offlexible material carried by said armature, said arm having a portionnormally engaging said coin vane, and a stop carried by said membernormally preventing the disengagement of said arm from said coin vane.

9. In a coin collecting device, a coin vane, a polarized electromagneticunit having solenoids, each provided with a core mounted in spacedrelation, an armature pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereofadjacent said cores whereby the ends of said armature respectively swingtoward said cores, a permanent magnet mounted between said cores andextending generally parallel to the main axis thereof to a pointadjacent the intermediate portion of said armature, a flexible armcarried by said armature, said arm having a portion normally engagingsaid coin vane, and a stop carried by said permanent magnet normallypreventing the disengagement of said arm from said coin vane.

10. In a coin collecting device, a polarized electromagnetic unitprovided with spaced solenoids,

each having a core terminating in a pole-piece,

an armature pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, having its endsrespectively positioned adjacent each pole-piece, one of saidpole-pieces having an opening therein, the axis of said openingextending in the direction of the principal axis of said armature, alatch of magnetic material in said opening, said latch having anextension of non-magnetic material normally projecting into the path ofmovement of one end of said armature, said latch also being providedwith a stop engaging a portion of its related pole-piece to limit themovement of said latch in one direction, a secondary pole-piece ofmagnetic material supported on the solenoid of and adjacent saidlast-mentioned pole-piece in the path of the leakage flux from saidsolenoid whereby the energization of said solenoid in one sensewithdraws the extension on said latch from the path of movement of saidarmature and attracts the adjacent end of said armature, a leaf springof nonmagnetic material having its ends respectively engaging saidsecondary pole-piece and its intermediate portion engaging said latch toforce it into its normal position determined by said stop, and a shieldof non-magnetic material substantially enclosing said latch.

WILLIAM J. VINCENT.

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